After a summer thunderstorm, the first impulse is often: clean up quickly, check the car, save the plants. However, with hail, a short sequence makes more sense. First check that everything is safe, then photograph the damage, then clean up and report it. This way, important details are not lost.
Especially when several things are affected – car, balcony, awning, skylights, plants, or patio furniture – calm documentation helps. It does not replace insurance advice, but it makes the subsequent conversation with the insurance company, landlord, or workshop much easier.
Safety first, then photos
Do not go under damaged branches, loose roof tiles, glass surfaces, or power lines. If water has run into sockets, fuse boxes, or appliances, keep your distance first and, in case of doubt, call in experts or the emergency services. The damage is annoying, but your own safety comes first.
If the area is safe, photograph the condition before you change much. Overview shots and details are important: Where is the damage, how big is it, what is lying next to it, what did the situation look like immediately after the thunderstorm?
These photos are helpful
- Overview:Photograph the balcony, driveway, garden, or room once from a distance.
- Detail:Take close-up shots of dents, cracks, broken pots, broken glass, damaged awnings, or bent plants.
- Size comparison:Place a coin, a ruler, or a key next to hailstones, dents, or cracks.
- Series of photos:Use multiple angles for cars or windows, because dents are visible differently depending on the light.
- Save the date:Leave photos directly on your phone and do not just send them via messenger so that timestamps are preserved.
What can be removed immediately
Immediate measures are sensible if more damage would otherwise occur: wipe up water, remove broken pots from walking areas, secure loose objects, place sensitive plants in the shade, or provisionally cover a damaged area. Take a quick photo of the condition beforehand.
For larger repairs, restraint is better. Before expensive orders, replacement purchases, or car repairs, you should clarify what your insurance requires. Some contracts provide for prompt notification, an inspection, or specific documents.
Car, balcony, apartment: what to look out for?
For cars, hail dents, damaged windows, mirrors, and paintwork are typical points. Even if the car is still drivable, a quick walk-around in good light is worth it. For the balcony, it's not just plants that count: check the awning, privacy screen, railing covers, lights, and patio furniture.
In the apartment, you should look for leaking skylights, water stains, damaged shutters, and damp spots around windows. If water has penetrated, do not just photograph the puddle, but also the path of the water.
Report damage: short and complete
Note in a few sentences approximately when the thunderstorm occurred, what is affected, and what immediate measures you have taken. Then contact the insurance company, property management, landlord, or workshop – depending on what was damaged and who owns it.
Invoices, purchase receipts, policy numbers, photos, and a simple list of the damaged items are helpful. Anyone who is unsure whether damage is covered should not guess, but check their own contract and ask directly.
Make a note for the next thunderstorm
After reporting, the best time for a small improvement is: a blanket or cardboard as quick car protection, a fixed place for plant pots, a routine for awnings and parasols, and a folder for insurance documents. This saves time during the next storm.
Caution
- Thunderstorm check for balcony and garden
- Thunderstorm at home: Which plugs should be pulled
- Heavy rain after hot days
- Hail Protection for Cars and Plants
- Emergency Checklist for Families
Sources and further information:
- GeoSphere Austria: Weather warnings
- Chamber of Labour: Storm damage
- AK Upper Austria: Storm damage and insurance
- Ă–AMTC: Damage to cars caused by storms, hail, etc.
- VVO: Insurance cover guide
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
